Clutch plate



Feb. 14, 192s. 1,659,289

D. E. GAMBLE CLUTCH PLATE Filed' June 27, 1927 posed between two partsof a drivin Patented Feb. 14,1928.

UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

DAVI'D E. GAMBLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 THE. BORG BECK GOI-ZPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF IIIIaLlIN'OIlS.

ommen PLATE.

Application-tiled June 27, 1927. Serial No. 201,575.

.une 9 located outside of the slots 8 sa that sa This invention relatesto friction clutches of the kind wherein a friction plate is intermemberand is adapt-ed to. be gripped or c amped by the parts under suicientpressure to impart motion from the driving member to the driven memberof the clutch. The invention is particularly desirable in a frictionclutch for automotive vehicles.-

The object of the invention is to. provide a novel. clutch plate havingfriction rings which will take holdsmoothly and evenly when vpresayielding e the clutch throughout their contact area sure is initiallyapplied, jand b but rapid progressive action ma act quickly and Aorjerking.

Another object; of the invention is to provide a clutch plate withcontinuous friction rings and to make full engagement between the.friction lrings andthe driving members throu hout ,the 'application -ofpressure, where y to secure maximum efciencyin a rapid progressivemovement and without uneven wear on the rings.l f

LAnd a further object of vthe invention is i i to provide the clutch.plate with integral supplate showing one` of the friction ports of novelconstruction for the friction rings ,andy which supports are adapted'Itov yieldfunder clutch pressure in a uniform progressive manner toprovide a soft clutch action.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a selected embodimentofthe invention and referrin thereto: l

Fig. 1 is a side e evation of the clutchl rings partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalview on=the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1:

In the drawings the clutch plate 5 is divided into a plurality ofsectors 6 by radialv slots 7 which extend through the periphery of theplate and connect at their inner lends with transverse slots 8 at orabout the lmid- Alternate sectors are bent dle thereof. These slots 8`are spaced apart and are disposed Substantially normal t9 the slots 7to' form therewith T-shaped slots which 'separate the sectors. Y

'bodily and lat# Y eally ofthe plate to oset positions` on op'-V vpositie sides of thevplate from a concentric oppositely to the offsetbendof the sector to y" lie normally in avplane with the body portion ofadjacent sectors. By this construc` tion the marginal portions 10 of onesector will be ofi'setvon one side of the plane of the body of the plateand the intermediate body portion of the sector will be offset on theefficiently-without grabbngmther side of the` plane of the body of theplate, so that the marginal portions of one sector will lie in a planeof the body portions of adjacent Vsectors and, since'the body portionsof alternate sectors are offset to' oppo arranged on opposite sidesofthe plate and i are fastened by rivets 12; or other suitable fasteningmeans, to the body portion, at or about the vmiddle thereof, ofalternate sectors with which they engage. Each ring-isY provided withopenings 13 opposite thel rivets with which said ring is not engaged toaccommodatethe heads of the' rivets andpermit the. ring to atly en e the-sector -which carries the' rivets. t us onel ring is fastened toalternate sectors on one side of the plate andthe other ring is'fastened.to the other sectors on the other side of the plate, and in releasedposition of the clutch theserings are spaced apart, as shownl in Fig.A3. In released position of the clutch the' bod rtion of one sector en.one 4ring! an "t e side marginal portions of this sector engage theother ring, I body portions of adjacent sectors engage oppositev ringsand the marginal portions of adjacent sectors engxxige o those vengagedby t e vuaslpective sectors, the sectors constitute a. yi ding-supportfor the .rings which is sectional in construction, but so nearlycontilu'ons in actiont'hat the rings will and sncenthe'v posits ringsfrom y y portions ofthe 1 thev driving and driven members of the clutchsmoothly, evenly and uniform] g throughout their entire length. The invntionprovid a clutch l simple an novel Aconstruction which will cause aclutch to take hold smoothly and evenly and without grabbin or jerking.

The sectors provide -a yiel ing .sectional support for continuous ringswhich operates 10 to all intentsand purposes as a continuousindeplendent support for eachsector, but fwhic is constructedto,yielduniforinly and progressively, to, lovide a' clutch which actsquickly but softly. Each friction ring is caused to make' fullengagement with its clutchmember and this prevents uneven wear of therin the ring. Each s ot 8 is located opposite the inner ends' of themarginal portions-10 of bent set marginal portions to yield and flattenout transversely of the sector" atl the' Sametime that the bodyof thesector is yielding and attening out' radially of the plate, whereby thesectors' collectively constitute a substantial and .uniform, but sec-Vtionally yielding! support for .the rings which Ywill engage the kclutchmembers throughout .their contact faces Vand yield' evenly andprogressively in a quick and ef-` 'iicient 'clutch action. l n gIclaimzA f A 1. A clutch plate a 4radial slotsextending inward.. omitsperiphery to provide `a plurali of spaced sectors, said sectors beingbodi y and laterally oiset alternately on op the plate, andcontinuousfriction rings; on.

'opposite sides of said plate and connected f to alternate sectors.`

2. A. clutch plate having :i glurality of radial slots-extending inwardoni its pe'-V A riphery to provide a plurality of spaced sectors, said`slots having T-shaped heads at their inner ends 'and said sectors' beingbodily and laterally oset `alternately on opposite sides of the plate,and continuous',

friction rings on o posite'sides of said plate and connected to ternatesectors.

3. A clutch platehaving a lurality Aou. radial slots extending inward omits periphery-to provide a plurality of spaced see-A plate of andprolonge thelife of two ad'aceiit sectors, andthis enables these 'nec toalternate sectors. 'te sides ofY imanes I tors, Vsaid sectors beingbodily Vand laterally ite .sides of the' late lo4 'cated at o r aboutthe inner ends o vthe sec offset alternately on op l plate ona lineconcentric of the tors, and continuous friction rings on oppositesidesof saidplateand connected to alternate sectors. 1

4. A clutch plate having a lurality of radial slots .extending inwardtors, the sideniarginal portions of each secom, its .pe-4 rphery toprovide a plurality of spaced sec?,

tor being offset in, one Vdirection and the `to1 being olset in onedirection and the intei-mediate body portion being osct in the other.direction from the plane of the body' of the plate, therefbeingtransverse 4slots connected to the inner ends of the radial slots andprojecting concentrically of the plate opposite'thc inner ends of 'saidmarginal portions, and continuous friction rings on. o posite sides of.said plate and conlurality of: oni its pefaa clutch pim having .1 lmliiyof' radial slots extending inward om itskperiphery to provide aplurality of spaced sec tors, the inner ends of said slots connectingwithtransverse slots at or about the middle thereof, the body portion ofeach sector being oiset laterally to one side of the plane of the bodyof-the plate and the side marginal portions of said `sector being ofsetto the other side of the plane of the body of the plate, ad]acentsectors being oppositely offset, and continuous Afriction rings onopposite sides of said plate and connected to alternate sectors. y

DAVID-E, GAMBLE.

